A free utility for NTFS writing on Mac OS X 10.6.5?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How to copy files to read-only NTFS hard drive on a Mac

Coming from Windows (Vista/7), I have a few NTFS formatted Hard Drives.

Are there any programs to make OS X write to NTFS?

Do I have any options aside from installing Windows via Boot Camp and reformatting?

Solution 1

Yes. NTFS-3G. You will need to do a bit of hunting to find the free and open source NTFS-3G as opposed to the commercial Tuxera NTFS, which they will quite cheerfully sell you. The latest link at time of writing is on that page under "NTFS-3G for Mac OS X 2010.5.22". I'm not sure if NTFS-3G includes it, but you may also need to install MacFUSE.

Solution 2

If you have macports installed you can install it quickly and freely. It's available.

$ port search ntfs
ntfs-3g @1.5130 (fuse)
    Safe read/write NTFS driver for FUSE

$ sudo port install ntfs-3g

If you want to use other tools you can install ntfsprogs and you will be able to resize, etc. ^^

Comments

[user3333603]

Note that some of the paid programs like Tuxera are also faster and more stable.

[Simon Hughes]

I'm not a fan of these kinds of add-ons (macports, wine etc) but I think I'll give this a go.

[Simon Hughes]

I found the link on their site, it's the other post under October in the sidebar. Also, for the record, according to the site NTFS-3G includes MacFUSE. I'll try to test it later, just installed remotely, unfortunately, the drives seem to be turned off right now.

[Simon Hughes]

I found the GUI installer as per Scott's answer. See my comments there.